Updates

** Shares of HMC Capital HMC.AX rise 15.3% to A$11.41, set for their biggest intraday gain since December, 2023

** HMC top gainers in the ASX200 benchmark index .AXJO, which is down 0.5%

** Diversified asset manager posts HY statutory profit after tax of A$166.9 million ($105.98 million), a sharp growth from A$17.8 million logged last year on the back of strong AUM growth and record investment returns

** AUM grew to A$18.5 billion as at December-end, up 45% from June-end

** Declares interim dividend of 6 Australian cents per share

** Says is in the early stages of establishing a HMC sponsored consortium to acquire and recapitalise hospital operator Healthscope

** Stock up 9.1% this year, including current session's moves

($1 = 1.5748 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Manasi Dasa Sundeep and Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru)

((Manasi.DasaSundeep@thomsonreuters.com;))